SchoolAerobics Champs

Congratulations to our Mornington Year 7 SchoolAerobics team and our Tyabb Schoolaerobics team, who are off to Queensland for Nationals, following their standout performances at the State Finals in Geelong on 18 June.

The Mornington Year 7 team, coached by Mackie Dornan, Year 11, and Helena Hasse, Year 12, placed first position in the Stage One Classic, while our Rosebud team, coached by Ms Louise Paxino, placed second. In the Stage One Open, our Tyabb team (coached by Ms Sarah Bailey) placed third and our Mornington Year 8 team (coached by Kellie Jolley) placed eighth out of 12 teams. Padua’s Senior team, coached by Ms Sarah Bailey, placed 13^th in the Stage 2 division. We congratulate all of the girls and their coaches on their dedication and hard work.

Year 8 Girls Soccer

(or as the rest of the world calls it Football)

The team comprises the talents of Lily Cockerham, Paige De-Vlaquiere, Emilia Bassett, Romoney Buckmastet-Gardner, Ellie Mackinnon, Sinead Taylor, Imogen Pentz, Sophie McKenzie-Mcharg, Ava Riedy and Ruby Caruso. We have played three games one each against St Johns Dandenong, St Francis-Xavier and Bayside Christian Colleges, and although unsuccessful on the scoreboard, the team has developed in leaps and bounds. For all the girls it was a first and that goes for their coach as well (I’m not sure if coaching rugby and rowing count?).

Our first game was against St Johns and on the way there we used Google to learn a bit about the field and positions. The girls were very impressed as we walked through the school grounds and arrived at the oval with a hundred students watching on, as it was their school lunch break. St Johns lent us several players as we were short. The referee spoke to the girls before the game and at halftime and was a great support to them as he knew it was their first match (for some the first time on a Soccer pitch). Every girl made an effort to get to the ball and pass it to the next player. Special mention to Lily Cockerham who took on the unenviable role as goalie, as well as Paige De-Vlaquiere and Emilia Basset who made some excellent efforts both in defence and in moving the ball forward. On reflection, the girls decided that a lunchtime practice would be good and they agreed to meet in the gym on Wednesdays. We were fortunate in that Shakira Samuel from the sports department, and someone who knows how to play, volunteered to help. She was assisted by the very supportive Rhiannon Kelleher.

The next week we played St Francis-Xavier and although we were short, they were willing to lend us some spares. There was some improvement from the week before as the team was learning the rules of the game. Special mentions for the week include Sinead Taylor, who made some excellent defensive moves and a couple of good runs forward, Sophie McKenzie-Mcharg and Ellie Mackinnon who both displayed determination in going for the ball and were relentless in defence.

Our next opposition was Bayside who arrived with 22 players. We only fielded a team of ten but it was still a great day and, without a doubt, our best game so far. The girls went on the attack which saw us in the midfield or the opposition’s goal square for a large part of the game. This did leave us exposed at the back but it was great to see the pressure and the near misses at the goal. Special mention for this week would be Ruby Caruso in her valiant efforts in defence and Ava Reidy and Imogen Pentz in attack, some great runs were made by both and most in contested balls.

The final game was John Paul College and it was our penultimate game. Thanks to John Paul who lent us the three players we needed to make a full team; five in all. Unbeknown to them one of their future stars, Matilda, who when given the option at halftime to play for her home side, stayed with the girls from Padua. The attacking spirit was there and all the girls played their part, but the chocolates go to Imogen Pentz who scored the team's first goal. Which was duly celebrated.

One last player who needs special mention is Romoney Buckmaster-Gardner who was consistent in each game in her determination to get to the ball, contest possession, and get it forward. She received the most The Most Valuable Player award.

Well done to all the girls and a special thanks to Mr Emilio Di Paolo for arranging the gear and, more importantly, encouraging the girls. Thank you to Deb Clarke for sorting out the buses and to Sarah Fritsch for organising the teacher replacements, and of course to the teachers who do the replacements. SIS would not happen without that crucial support.

Michael Kerr
Mornington teacher and Y8 Girls SIS Soccer Team Coach